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New app to create dementia-friendly home

Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria has launched a new app providing carers with ideas to make their home more accessible for people living with dementia.

Based on 'Ten Dementia Enabling Environment Principles", the Dementia-Friendly Home app recommends practical changes that prompt a carer to think about how the home can be changed in a way that may assist the person living with dementia.

Maree McCabe, chief executive officer of Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, says most people are not aware that people with dementia may experience spatial and visual challenges as well as the more commonly understood memory issues.

“Changes in the brain can impact on day to day functions and potentially confuse people living with dementia. Identifying ways the home and environment can be modified to ameliorate any challenges will make a difference to the person living with dementia,” Ms McCabe says.

With 70 percent of people with dementia living in the community, the app enables the home to be made more dementia-friendly. This can allow the person to stay in their own home, enjoy their regular lifestyle activities and remain engaged with their community for longer.

“This app aims to enable people living with dementia to maintain their independence and continue living at home. It may also help build on their self-esteem, which can have a profound impact on the quality of life for a person living with dementia, as well as families and carers,” says Ms McCabe.

Through a floorplan of a house the app ‘walks’ you through different rooms in a house and in every room it will tell you what things could be a stumbling block for people with dementia and make suggestions to change that.